What are rigger gloves?

One of the main advantages of rigger gloves is their incredible versatility, and this is mainly down to their hard wearing nature. Rigger gloves are often made with leather, alongside other materials to help protect every area of the hand. The thick material of the gloves protects wearers’ hands during all kinds of tasks, meaning workers can carry out their job with just one pair of protective gloves, rather than having to carry multiple pairs to be used throughout the day.

What industries use rigger gloves?

While the name rigger gloves may suggest that this form of hand protection is solely for the rigging industry, they can actually be used for a wide range of tasks, including:

Construction

Warehouse work

Packing

Transport

Building maintenance

Boating and Fishing

Gardening

Mechanics

Regulations and Standards for Rigger Gloves

As with all forms of PPE, there are a number of regulations and standards surrounding the production, testing, sale and use of rigger gloves. These include:

EN 388 – The European Standard covering gloves which protect against mechanical hazards and risks. Gloves are graded on a scale for resistance to abrasion, blade cuts, tears and punctures.

EN 420– The European Standard defining the general requirements for protective gloves. This looks at areas such as whether they are fit for purpose, safe to use and sized correctly.

Personal Protective Equipment Regulations (2002)– These regulations set out the requirements for employers to provide and ensure the use of personal protective equipment at work to protect against health and safety risk. This covers all areas of PPE, including protective gloves.